DAMAGED

It happened suddenly and unexpectedly. It was like a scene from a movie when Jenny collapsed in Michael's arms. Everyone was alarmed. Trying to position her head in his arms carefully, he realized his hands were bloody. Gazing at his blood-stained arms, he remembered a certain rainy night from many years ago.

"There's…..there's.... blood... coming out of her head", he stammered in a low tone At that moment, Mrs Bose panicked. The taxi driver was filled with sympathy. He had not even collected his fare. "Deji get the car quickly" Mrs Bose shouted in hysteria.

"Hurry up o, she may be dying, she added.

"Mummy mummy, please don't die." Stephanie shook Jenny's unconscious body.

"Don't touch her like that….. Don't push her too much, for the baby's sake. The baby is still inside." Michael told his daughter.

"Which Baby Michael? Where did you see a baby from"Mrs Bose shouted as Deji reversed the car closer.

"Mummy she is 8 months pregnant, can't you see her bleeding?. It's because of the accident." He cried out. Mrs Bose watched her 37-year-old son break down in tears. She felt he had gone mad!

"Oh my God! Michael this is not Laura. This is Jenny" Mrs Bose tried explaining but it was obvious Michael was relapsing into a deep trauma. He kept muttering the word "baby and blood" over and over again.

Deji brought the range Rover closer but taking Jenny from his cousin's grasp into the car become a huge problem as Michael wouldn't move. He held Jenny strongly to himself as he sobbed. He told them the hospital will not attend to them.

Deji tried explaining to him that this was Jenny and she was attacked but Michael was far out of reasoning. Deji paid the taxi driver and he summoned all security men in the compound to hold Michael down and pry Jenny out of his hand.

Michael wept aloud, thrashing and kicking. He continued muttering "The baby…the baby… stop the bleeding…check for the heartbeat."

Deji drove as far as he could with the security Hilux blaring the siren to clear the highway.

He arrived at the hospital in such a record time as He had called the doctors ahead. Mrs. Bose sat in the back seat with Jenny in between her and Stephanie who was crying nonstop. Michael sat in the front, looking as though he was in a trance.

Deji had informed the hospital of an emergency, hence they were already waiting for them as they drove in. The doctors quickly brought out the stretcher and took Jenny out of the car.

However Michael was still in his haze as he shouted to the doctor "She's pregnant doctor. The baby is about eight months"

"Where is the pregnancy? I cant see anything " The surprised doctor replied him and Deji took over.

"Please ignore him, he is experiencing a traumatic disorder. I think she's 24 years old, she was attacked on her return from the village. I believe she has a concussion, there's blood at the back of her head and a bruise around the eyes. I don't know why but her body feels hot. I think there's something wrong with her temperature, maybe she has a fever" Deji narrated to the doctor.

"Don't worry sir, we'll get to the bottom of it and i promise you premium health care services." Jenny was quickly admitted in the ICU while Michael was taking to another room and sedated following Deji and Mrs Bose's orders.

Stephanie did not stop crying in the lobby as she sat close to Mrs Bose who was making several calls, as well as Deji. When she had finished speaking to her siblings abroad, she turned to look at her granddaughter who was crying so badly.

"Stephanie, what is it? Please stop crying. Jenny will be fine. You just have to be hopeful and prayerful."

"Grandma, I told her that I never want to see her again yesterday" She cried out.

"You did what?"

"I told her I never wanted to see again after Daddy shouted at me"

"Oh my goodness , after all that you did wrong yesterday, you still blamed Jenny for your stupidity. Did you tell her that Abdul tried to kiss you? If your father had not walked into the house, what do you think would have happened?"

"Grandma am sorry" She cried the more.

"How could you be like that to Jenny. So disrespectful and harsh Stephanie? I thought She taught you better"

" I was just angry and I didn't know what came over me. I don't want her to die Grandma" Stephanie sobbed bitterly.

"Oh don't say that Stephanie "

"I don't want her to die like my mum. God is punishing me by taking her away," she cried".

"Oh, Stephanie do not say things like that! Jenny is a fighter. She is not like your mum Laura. She has a different destiny from your mum. Stop bringing Laura into this. Jenny will not die. As a matter of fact, this is all your father's fault" Mrs Bose pointed out.

"Michael has bottled the issue of Laura's demise so much that he is actually now traumatised." Mrs Bose said to Deji who came to sit close to her.

"I am sorry ma. He going to be alright. Let him sleep off now. I would actually get him a therapist after he wakes up.

The Oladokun's spent the Friday afternoon at the pristine private clinic they took Jenny to. Her test result showed low sugar as a result of no meal that morning, malaria of a high value and sepsis. She also had a concussion at the back of her head which made it very swollen.

Deji explained to the doctor that the malaria could be caused by the mosquitoes in the village. The doctor assured him that Jenny will be fine as she is responding to treatment.

Deji tried to convince Mrs Bose to go home as he would stay over at the hospital but she wouldn't agree. When Nina visited the clinic with food, toiletries, provisions and promised to keep him company that night, Mrs Bose finally left the hospital with her sad granddaughter who was still sobbing intermittently.

Jenny was moved to a private room from the ICU with drips and medications running through her unconscious self as she was laid on a bed. Deji sat on the couch in the executive room, watching her. While Nina slept on the next bed. He stared at Jenny's face and the bruise looked worse than it was in the afternoon. He was livid about her condition. Michael may murder somebody when he recovers. Thankfully, he collected the taxi driver's number. He was prepared to follow up the incident report and find the pickpocket. Justice must be served for Jenny, he said to himself. Getting up from the couch as he could not sleep, he walked to Michael's room which was the very next room to see him still sedated. He was sleeping soundly like a baby. Deji knew he need supplies of fresh clothes and toiletries in the morning. He called Stanley the driver and informed him of what to bring from the house early in the morning.

By Saturday morning, the Priest Okafor was the first caller. Mrs Bose had called him on the phone and he came to pray with them. He prayed for Michael first even though he was still asleep, before moving to Jenny's room. Her face looked so swollen like a victim of domestic violence. He encouraged Deji to be strong, that all will be well. Mrs Bose kept communicating on the phone with Deji to find out Jenny's state. Michael woke up by noon to find a nurse in the room"

"Good afternoon sir" the nurse greeted as soon as she noticed he was up

"Where the fuck am I?" he asked glancing at the room.

"You are in a hospital sir. Let me call the doctor for you."

At that moment, Deji and the doctor walked in.

"Deji how far? How is she?" Michael asked

"Who?" Deji asked arrogantly.

"Jenny of course. What's wrong with you now?"

"Oh so now you know it's Jenny.?"

"What is that supposed to me?"

"Doctor he is all yours! I am going to sit by her bedside. She is still unconscious bro" Deji said as he walked out of the room.

"Look at this idiot that I am talking to. This small boy, walking out of me. What disrespect"

Michael attempted to remove the cannula that was placed on his hand.

"I would warn you to refrain from doing that Mr Michael.

"Who the fuck are you to tell me what to do. Do I look like one of your sick patient? My friend get out of my sight."

"Mr Michael calm down" The doctor pleaded.

"Don't fucking tell me what to do"

"As a matter of urgency, you are this close to being admitted at the psych ward in FMC. All I have to do is sign this document in my hand and they will bundle you and tie you up without your consent. I have your mother's permission to commit you to a mental facility if you don't listen to me right now."

"Why would my mother do that? Deji!!! nurse call my cousin for me". The nurse went out and returned alone a few minutes later.

"He said if you don't listen to the doctor here, there's nothing he can do"

"Doctor listen to me, I am not crazy. Where's my phone, let me call my mother so she will set this straight "

"Your phone and personal items have been collected sir" the nurse replied him.

Michael felt his temper increasing. However he did not want to get thrown in a psych home with other mad people.

"Doctor I am listening, what is it that you want to tell me."

"I want to have a proper discussion with you before I make my preliminary report."

"Please go ahead "

"Nurse please kindly excuse us. You can return in an hour time with toiletries for Mr Michael here."

The nurse left the both of them alone. Suddenly Michael became very afraid of the doctor. What if he writes stuffs that were not true. He did not want to be casted into a psych ward.

"Please tell me your name for proper documentation, your age and a brief history of who you are.

Michael was professional and straight to the point. He delivered the answers grudgingly and trembled inwardly when the man wrote down all he was saying.

"Michael my name is Dr Dingami. I am a consultant psychiatrist. Your family sought my service after you had a bizarre episode yesterday. Can you tell me what happened? I am hoping you will tell me the truth not just what you think I want to hear"

Michael's heart fell in fear. How could he escape this threat of a psych ward commitment?

"I called my Daughter's nanny my late wife's name"

"Why would you do that? Do they look alike?"

"No they do not."

"Then why? Did you by any chance forget her name?" the doctor probed.

"I can't remember "

"Okay. When you are ready to talk" Dr Dingami said ready to leave.

"Listen I was scared. I have never been so frightened in my life. Jenny was lifeless in my arms and there was blood on them. Laura was lifeless in my arms. It felt like the same scenario. Yes, I acknowledged that I lost it because I was scared. I can not loose Jenny. It felt like I have lost too much." Michael explained sadly.

The doctor kept writing for a long while.

"You called her your daughter's nanny?" the doctor asked looking at his face.

"Hmmmmmm that was the job they hired her for"

"How did she end up in your arms?"

"She was attacked and she fell into my arms" Michael explained.

"I know a lie when I hear one"

"We are close. I like her. I have something special with her"

"A sexual relationship? Is that why you told the doctor that she was eight months pregnant?" Michael widened his eyes in surprise.

"Yeah, you see how serious your mental health issues are?" Michael was helpless. He couldn't remember the extent to which he demonstrated his anguish.

"See Doctor, i am not crazy. I loved Laura so much that I promise myself not to love another. She was the only one who has made an impact in my world. Then almost 5 months ago, this beautiful Cook and Nanny to my daughter walks into my home. She turned it around with her goodness. Her caring attitude, she hates me swearing. She is not afraid of me. She doesn't want me to have sex with other women. She wants me to go to church, she wants me to be a good dad to my daughter whom she sees as her own. She hugs me and smiles at me. I think of her every day. I miss her when she is not there. I can't even have a blow job in peace. I see Jenny in every woman that I want to have sex with!" Michael was exhausted.

"Are you sure you see Jenny or you see Laura?"

Michael didn't realize his eyes were filled with tears when he narrated his ordeal, until they dropped.

"I don't know, I think you should commit me to the mad house because I don't know what to say anymore"

"Mr Michael, there are side effects of grief emotionally and physically. Do you know that unexpressed grief leads to mental exhaustion. It makes you fearful, cautious and unable to accept reality."

"Then I guess I am scared of loving and losing. I don't have the heart to take it again" Michael admitted finally, holding his chest.

"I need you to accept that Laura is gone forever. You are never going to see her again. You need to stop punishing yourself for being happy with another woman who is not her. You need to accept that you can and you will love another who is not her."

Michael nodded his head like an agama lizard.

"Now I need you to relax, take your vitamins, your blood work is okay and you will be fine".

Dr Dingami stood up and shook Michael's hand. He deposited his card in his hand.

"You can call me for further counseling session. I will wait for it." The doctor walked out of the room and the nurse entered with a bag.

"Sir these are your toiletries and change of outfits. Let me remove the cannula "

Michael was anxious. He did not know if this was all part of the evaluation to know if he should be taken to a psych ward. He nodded at the nurse, trying to be of good behavior.

Afterwards removing the cannula, she left the room, leaving him a lone. He locked the door immediately and open the duffel bag.

His phone was right on top and he immediately turned it on. He called his mother and she did not pick the call. He called Stephanie and she did not pick as well. He knew he needed to make plans to leave the hospital because he knew he was not mad. He had no idea why his mother wanted to have him committed.

As he made his move to leave the room, he dawned on him that he couldn't leave the hospital.

Jenny was still unconscious!

He had to see her.

As he opened the door again, he saw Deji. The boy looked surprise to see him. He has never been happy seeing the boy because he always said he had bad timing. But as soon as he saw him, he quickly drew him into the room.

"Deji listen to me. I am not mad. You need to believe me. I was just depressed. Maybe I lost it because Jenny is like family, you know" Michael said holding his hand.

"You are still even lying. Will it kill you to say you are helplessly in love with her?"

Deji queried as Michael looked away.